to consult
your own heart as to what you shall be pleased to do with me;
feeling sure that the will of a prince such as you are cannot be
coupled with aught but honor and magnanimity. Wherefore, if it
please you to have so much honorable pity as to answer for the
safety which a captive King of France deserves to find, whom there
is a desire to render friendly and not desperate, you may be sure of
obtaining an acquisition instead of a useless prisoner, and of
making a King of France your slave forever."

The former of these two letters has had its native hue somewhat altered
in the majority of histories, in which it has been compressed into those
eloquent words, "All is lost save honor." The second needs no comment to
make apparent what it lacks of kingly pride and personal dignity.
Beneath the warrior's heroism there was in the qualities of Francis I.
more of what is outwardly brilliant and winning than of real strength and
solidity.

But the warrior's heroism, in conjunction with what is outwardly
brilliant and winning in the man, exercises a great influence over
people. The Viceroy of Naples perceived and grew anxious at the
popularity of which Francis I. was the object at Pizzighittone. The
lanzknechts took an open interest in him and his fortunes; the Italians
fixed their eyes on him; and Bourbon, being reconciled to him, might
meditate carrying him off. Lannoy resolved to send him to Naples, where
there would be more certainty of guarding him securely. Francis made no
objection to this design. On the 12th of May, 1525, he wrote to his
mother, "Madame, the bearer has assured me that he will bring you this
letter safely; and, as I have but little time, I will tell you nothing
more than I shall be off to Naples on Monday--, and so keep a lookout at
sea, for we shall have only fourteen galleys to take us and eighteen
hundred Spaniards to man them; but those will be all their arquebusiers.
Above all, haste: for, if that is made, I am in hopes that you may soon
see your most humble and most obedient son." There was no opportunity
for even attempting to carry off the king as he went by sea to Naples;
instead of taking him to Naples, Lannoy transported him straight to
Spain, with the full assent of the king and the regent themselves, for it
was in French galleys manned by Spanish troops that the voyage was made.
Instead of awaiting the result of such doubtful chances of del